8
LUKE
Imust have checked to make sure these steaks are fully thawed at least a hundred times. Riley should be here any minute, and fuck, I need a drink to settle my nerves. I crack open a beer and distract myself by chopping up the vegetables, arranging them with the steaks in a way that’s aesthetically pleasing before snapping a photo. I post it to my “safe for work” social sites with the caption,Dinner date?and that little suspicious-looking eyeballs emoji.
Nathan emailed our video over earlier this afternoon, and it’s taking everything in me not to watch it before Riley gets here. We agreed to watch it together for the first time, and my stomach is doing flips in anticipation.
Riley arrives at six o’clock on the dot, and Aggie alerts me to his presence before he’s even gotten out of the car. She’s running circles underfoot and eluding capture when the doorbell rings, and I call out for Riley to come in as I try and herd this little demon away from the door to give him space to enter. I gotta ask Jess if that doggy daycare has a trainer on staff.
He looks incredible in a pair of short khaki shorts that hug his smooth, toned quads and a black button-down tee, his wavyhair perfectly styled like he just walked off the beach. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he grew up here. He’s got the relaxed California vibe down pat.
To my surprise, rather than being annoyed by the yappy puppy at my feet, Riley immediately drops to the floor and allows her to launch into his lap, laughing as she jumps at his face and attempts to lick him directly in the mouth.
“Well aren’t you the cutest thing ever,” he coos, snatching her out of midair as she propels herself toward his face at warp speed again.
“Sorry about her lack of manners. I’ve only had her a few weeks, and…well, we’re working on it.” I shrug helplessly. “Some progress has been made, believe it or not.”
“Awww.” He flips Aggie in his grip so that she’s facing me, and takes one of her tiny paws between his fingers and makes her wave at me. “She’s just a baby, aren’t you, girl? Cut her some slack, Daddy.”
Jesus fucking Christ, that’s not even my kink. Why am I suddenly getting hot under the collar hearing him call me that?Donotgo down that rabbit hole, Luke.
Clearing my throat, I reach out to help him off the floor. He grips my hand firmly and hauls himself up with Aggie tucked securely in the crook of his other arm. Once he’s upright, I reluctantly release him and offer to take Aggie off his hands, which he refuses. He kicks off his Vans next to mine by the door, and I’m pretty sure I hear him mutter, “We’re gonna be besties, aren’t we, girl?” under his breath to Aggie as he nuzzles her head. She licks him on the nose in response.
“Dinner shouldn’t take too long…did you want to watch the video before or after?”
Riley’s eyes darken, and he rolls his bottom lip between his teeth. “I’ve been waiting all day to watch it, so…I vote before.”
“Thank fuck it’s not just me.” The words come out in a nervous laugh as I head to the couch, Riley carefully placing Aggie on the floor before he follows. I’ve filmed literallyhundredsof videos, so there’s no reason to be so anxious to watch this one. Except I’ve never felt the way I did with Riley on any other shoot. After so many years in this business, I think I’ve forgotten how to just enjoy it. I’ve been frustrated lately and worried all of my content looks the same. Maybe this collab is exactly what I need to rejuvenate my page and get a few more years out of this thing before I have to think about “retiring.”
Riley flops onto the couch next to me and immediately pulls out his phone. His forearm brushes mine as he leans in and tilts the screen so I can see, and even that small touch has the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. “You ready?” he asks excitedly, tapping the frozen image of us to make it full screen.
My heart lurches into my throat, and I do my best to flash him a confident grin. “Ready if you are.”
He presses play, and my nerves fly out the window. Nathan has filmed dozens of collabs for me by now, so of course I knew he was good…but this is next level, even for him. The lighting, the close-ups, the soft music he layered in…it’s perfect. This doesn’t look like regular Fanboy porn; it’s more like an erotic short film. It’s intimate and sensual in a way that almost feels voyeuristic, and I was fucking there. I can’t believe how good Riley and I look on camera together.
I knew there was a spark between us from the start, but that doesn’t always translate on camera. I’ve had guys I’ve hit it off with that end up being so method in a scene that the connection is lost, and it just looks like every other shoot. Riley’s inexperience and enthusiasm for the work definitely did us both a favor here. He’s a natural in front of the camera, and pride fills my chest at the knowledge that he trusted me enough to pull offthis kind of performance. This is, without a doubt, the best scene I’ve ever done.
Riley makes a little noise in the back of his throat as he watches me climb onto the table to straddle him on-screen, and I’m lightheaded as my cock begins to fill rapidly. The way Riley is squirming next to me, I’m guessing he’s in the same boat. It’s impossible not to be turned on by the fluidity of our movements and the affectionate kisses and shared glances. It’s as if we’ve known each other for years instead of days. I’ve never seen anything like it, in my videos or any others. Our compatibility is undeniable.
My blood is burning with arousal, and Riley’s breathing has picked up next to me, matching the soundtrack of the video. I’m surprised the camera picked up some of the intimate whispers on-screen, but parts of that day are honestly a blur; I was so present in the moment. Had he really looked at me like that? The video zooms in on his face as I come, and the look of adoration written across his features has me shifting uncomfortably for a different reason. No one has ever looked at me like that before, and it stirs something inside of me that’s unfamiliar and a little bit frightening.
“Whoa,” Riley breathes out on a shaky laugh as the screen goes black. “That was…really good.”
“Yeah.” The word comes out as a high-pitched squeak. I clear my throat and attempt to think of anything other than what I just watched and the fact that my body wants it againright now. “Nathan is really good at what he does.”
“I don’t think it was just Nathan.” Riley’s voice is still tinged with awe, and I know the feeling. I figured it would be good, but I wasn’t expectingthat. “I can’t wait to do that again.”
My gut twists in a way I don’t quite understand. Maybe it’s that deep primalneedto protect him again. I know as well as anyone that this business can tear a person apart if they’re notready for it. I learned a few tough lessons at the start of my career, and the pipeline of porn to “networking” at clubs to drugs is something I definitely don’t want to see him fall into. I want him to keep that light, that enthusiasm that’s shining through so clearly in this video. The idea of anyone treating him as anything other than the gem of a human he is makes my blood boil.
I shake the feeling off. Riley is an adult. He doesn’t need me to protect him. He’s perfectly capable of taking care of himself, and he seems like he’s got a good head on his shoulders. He’ll be just fine.
But I can’t get the idea of looking out for Riley out of my head. I know I wish I’d had someone to talk to when I started out. Someone to ask questions, someone to warn me off of the assholes, and introduce me to the good ones. I could be that person for Riley. If he wants. I could be like…the Obi-Wan of porn.
Fucking hell, I’m a nerd. I can never say that shit out loud to him.
“Food should be ready soon.” I stand abruptly, eager to change the subject and get some distance between us, but the cool air against my side where he was pressed up against me is an unpleasant and unwelcome sensation. “Just have to throw the steaks on the grill.”
It suddenly dawns on me that I didn’t ask if he has any food allergies or aversions, and I feel foolish. What if he’s a vegetarian or something? I don’t usually entertain at my place, but I should have known better—I had my own vegetarian stint for a bit in my twenties.
